Change and Beyond -- University Adult Group (CCTV 5th "Hope Star" English Talent Competition)

Author: "Hope Star" English Talent Competition Organizing Committee
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2004-07-01
Features: Dear readers, thank you for choosing this book. The CCTV "Hope Star" English Talent Competition is a high-level English competition for students across the country. By this year, it has successfully held five editions. Anyone who has watched the competition will sincerely admire the quick responses, authentic pronunciation, and fluent language of these contestants. Last year, at the conclusion of the fourth competition, our China Renmin University Press compiled and published the series "Change and Beyond – Stories Behind the CCTV Fourth 'Hope Star' English Talent Competition," divided into three volumes for primary school, secondary school, and university/adult groups. The content includes introductions to all contestants who entered the national finals, articles written by parents or teachers about how the contestants learned English, as well as live recordings of the competition, competition rules, and behind-the-scenes highlights. This series was well-received by students and parents, and "Change and Beyond" became a catchy slogan. Indeed, from the growth stories of these contestants, we deeply feel that mastering English can change lives and even personalities; learning English well not only helps overcome one's environment but also transcends oneself. Now, the fifth competition, which has a larger scale and covers more provinces and cities, has come to a close. Building on last year's experience, we have compiled and published this new series, "Change and Beyond – Special Edition of the CCTV Fifth 'Hope Star' English Talent Competition," divided into four volumes for primary school, junior high school, high school, and university/adult groups, with a stronger focus on introducing contestants and their English learning methods. In addition to articles written by parents or teachers about how the contestants learned English, there are also first-person accounts by the contestants themselves, making the content more personal, engaging, and persuasive. To give you a more intuitive and clear understanding of the entire competition, we have also compiled and published VCD series, "CCTV Fifth 'Hope Star' English Talent Competition," which includes live recordings of all semi-finals and finals at the national finals. This allows you to thoroughly understand the competition rules, content, procedures, and on-site performances of all contestants, making it the best guide for participation and an essential reference. At the same time, watching the contestants' performances will undoubtedly greatly inspire your interest in learning English and boost your confidence in mastering it. In summary, if you gain inspiration and benefits from reading this series or watching the competition VCDs, it will be our greatest comfort and encouragement. The CCTV "Hope Star" English Talent Competition is a large-scale television English competition organized by the Education and Science Program Center of CCTV. Adhering to the principle of "cultivating interest, boosting confidence, and setting role models," it provides a stage for English enthusiasts to improve themselves, showcase their talents, and seize opportunities, earning widespread popularity among audiences. Since 2000, the competition has been held annually for five years. Participants come from various industries, primarily students, representing all administrative regions of mainland China. It has influenced over 20 million people. The competition process consists of two stages: the national selection and the national finals. The national selection is conducted by setting up sub-regional competitions in each administrative region, with preliminary, semi-final, and final rounds to select contestants. Participants register according to their regions and compete in the corresponding sub-regional competition. Contestants from regions without sub-regional competitions are selected by the competition organizing committee. The national finals are held at CCTV, with champion contestants from each sub-region's different groups traveling to Beijing to compete. The national finals consist of semi-finals and finals, with judges selected from authoritative experts in the field of English and foreign teaching experts. CCTV provides a live recording of the national finals and the award ceremony. The competition organizing committee welcomes enterprises and institutions in education, culture, publishing, and other industries across mainland China's administrative regions to organize sub-regional competition activities under the unified leadership of the organizing committee. These organizations are responsible for promoting the competition, attracting sponsors, registering participants, and conducting competitions, while focusing on education and collaborating with CCTV to develop together with "Hope Star."
From February to July 2000, the first competition was held, with the country divided into seven sub-regions. Twenty contestants participated in the national finals without being grouped. In the end, Zhan Ying from Shanghai International Studies University won the first prize, while Han Jiang from Beijing Foreign Studies University and Shao Wei from Shanghai International Studies University won the second and third prizes, respectively. The broadcast of the first competition added fuel to the fervent wave of English learning across the country. Its flexible and diverse competition format, stunning visual effects, and relaxed and enjoyable style, combined with the contestants' youthful charm and high English proficiency, left audiences amazed.
From February to August 2001, the second competition was held, with 54 contestants from 19 administrative regions participating in the national finals. Sun Zheng from Peking University won the adult group championship, while Zhong Yurou from Hangzhou Xuejun High School won the junior group championship. The contestants not only gained valuable experience but also formed deep friendships. This competition generated a strong response in society, with enthusiastic registrations. Statistics show that the oldest participant was an 86-year-old, while the youngest was a 3.5-year-old toddler.
From February to July 2002, the third competition was held, with 36 contestants emerging from registrations across 16 administrative regions to participate in the national finals in Beijing CCTV. Yang Jin from Qingdao De County Road Primary School, Liu Hongyue from Changchun Foreign Languages School, and Ding Yuanyuan from Beijing Language and Culture University won the championships for the primary school, secondary school, and university/adult groups, respectively. The registration phase of this competition was even more intense, with long queues at registration points in Hubei, occasionally causing traffic congestion. This competition also drew attention from relevant leaders, with the Assistant Minister of Education and the Deputy Director of CCTV observing the competition and awarding prizes to the winners.
From January to May 2003, the fourth competition was held, with 45 contestants from 21 provinces, municipalities, and autonomous regions competing for the championship title of the "Hope Star." Zhao Wei from Wuhan University, Li Laiyin from Shenzhen Donghu Middle School, and Jia Ruixin from Shijiazhuang Beixin Street Primary School won the championships for the university/adult, secondary school, and primary school groups, respectively. The fourth competition coincided with the nation's united effort to combat SARS. All contestants, judges, and staff persevered and achieved success, composing a song of praise to the fight against SARS through their actions.
From April 22 to April 29, 2004, the finals of the fifth competition were held at CCTV, with 90 contestants from 31 provinces, municipalities, and autonomous regions gathering in Beijing to compete for the championship title of the fifth CCTV "Hope Star."